---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6261"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6261"
heading: "Worker protection at nuclear weapons facilities"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6261"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 606 — Personnel Matters"
  - "Subchapter III — Worker Safety"
---

# §6261. Worker protection at nuclear weapons facilities

- (a) **Training Grant Program.—**
  - (1) The Secretary of Energy is authorized to award grants to organizations referred to in [paragraph (2)](#a-2) in order for such organizations—
    - (A) to provide training and education to persons who are or may be engaged in [hazardous substance](#d) response or emergency response at [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy nuclear weapons [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2); and
    - (B) to develop curricula for such training and education.
  - (2)
    - (A) Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#a-2-B), the Secretary is authorized to award grants under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) to non-profit organizations that have demonstrated (as determined by the Secretary) capabilities in—
      - (i) implementing and conducting effective training and education programs relating to the general health and safety of workers; and
      - (ii) identifying, and involving in training, groups of workers whose duties include [hazardous substance](#d) response or emergency response.
    - (B) The Secretary shall give preference in the award of grants under this section to employee organizations and joint labor-management training programs that are grant recipients under [section 126(g)](/usc/10/126.md) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 ([42 U.S.C. 9660a](/usc/42/9660a.md)).
  - (3) An organization awarded a grant under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall carry out training, education, or curricula development pursuant to [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy orders relating to employee safety training, including orders numbered 5480.4 and 5480.11.
- (b) **Enforcement of Employee Safety Standards.—**
  - (1) Subject to [paragraph (2)](#b-2), the Secretary shall assess civil penalties against any [contractor](/usc/10/9511.md?p=7) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy who (as determined by the Secretary)—
    - (A) employs individuals who are engaged in [hazardous substance](#d) response or emergency response at [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy nuclear weapons [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2); and
    - (B) fails (i) to provide for the training of such individuals to carry out such [hazardous substance](#d) response or emergency response, or (ii) to certify to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy that such employees are adequately trained for such response pursuant to orders issued by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy relating to employee safety training (including orders numbered 5480.4 and 5480.11).
  - (2) Civil penalties assessed under this subsection may not exceed $5,000 for each day in which a failure referred to in [paragraph (1)(B)](#b-1-B) occurs.
- (c) **Regulations.—** The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
- (d) **Definitions.—** For the purposes of this section, the term “hazardous substance” [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4) radioactive waste and mixed radioactive and hazardous waste.

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2)(B), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1419, 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2731 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(B), realigned margins.